“I am extremely disappointed at not being part of World Cup squad” - Punam Raut
Veteran Indian batter Punam Raut has expressed her disappointment at not being part of the 2022 World Cup squad, which the BCCI announced on Wednesday.
The All-India Women’s selection committee picked up a 15-member squad with three stand-by players for the showpiece event scheduled between March 3 and April 4 in New Zealand. Mithali Raj will continue as the skipper of the team.
Significant absentees from the squad include batters Jemimah Rodrigues, Punam Raut and all-rounder Shikha Pandey.
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While Rodrigues and Pandey have been silent so far, Raut took to Instagram and Twitter on Thursday to express her views about the team selection. She wrote:
“Having being considered amongst the experienced batsman [batter] and a consistent run-scorer for India, I am extremely disappointed at not being a part of the World Cup squad.”
She added:
“I averaged 73.75, scoring 295 runs which included a hundred and two half-centuries in the six ODI games that I played. It is very disheartening to be continuously left out even after performing.”
Raut scored two half-centuries and a century in ODIs against South Africa in March of 2021. She also scored three half-centuries during the 2019 season. Her average since 2019 after 14 games was 50.16. Raut also averaged a staggering 73.75 in 2021 from six games.
The batter, however, wished the players selected to represent India at the multilateral event luck and wrote:
“Having said that, I would like to extend my best wishes to all the players who will be representing India.”
“We are not allowed to speak” – Neetu David
BCCI chief selector Neetu David on Thursday said the selection panel is not allowed to speak on the World Cup squad. Speaking to UNI, David said:
“Right now, we are not allowed to speak.”
The BCCI normally arranges a press conference whenever the squad is announced for such mega-events. However, on being quizzed on whether there will be one ahead of the team’s departure, David said:
“Right now, I have no idea.”
The lack of clarity on the selection process for the players picked in the World Cup team has led to plenty of debate amongst fans and experts.